Why Hating Candies Is Good For You

Often, when kids do good, we reward them to congratulate them and motivate them to do well next time. The kinds of rewards vary but treats given out to children are typically candies.

Consumer credit reporting agency, Experian Simmons, reported that 96 percent of children (age six to 11) in the United States eat candies and chocolates. Older kids were also found to exhibit higher frequency of indulgence to confectionery products. On the other hand, 25 percent of adults eat candies.

A type of confection, a candy is considered food with generally low nutritional value but rich in calories and carbohydrates.

Candies are categorized under confectionery products and are considered one of the driving forces of the confectionery industry. Under candies, chocolates and gum products are also included.

In the global confectionery market, Western Europe tops the list when it comes to generated sales from confections. In the United States, manufacturers The Hershey Company and Mars, Inc. are considered the leading brands in the confectionery business by taking up 31.3 percent and 28.9 percent, respectively, of the overall sales of the industry in 2017.

Among the confectionery products, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is the top choice of about 44.17 million Americans based on a 2016 consumer report.

The industry figures and finding of consumer surveys display the popularity of confectionery products, particularly candies and chocolates, among consumers. But, the high numbers also provide an overview of people’s unhealthy eating habits and high-in-sugar diet.

When excessive sugar enters our body, our susceptibility to diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity increases. Also, sugar is one of oral health’s worst enemies as bacteria feed on the sugar, produce acids, and damage the teeth, leading to the deterioration of mouth health.

Eating candies while on braces is a lot worst as metal brackets create more places for sugar to hide and linger.

If eliminating confectionery products out of your diet is too much for your sweet tooth (although it is more advised to do so), you can opt to choose the candies, chocolates, and gums which enter your mouth and interact with your teeth while you are on braces.

What candies should I not eat while under orthodontic treatment?

Sticky candies like Tootsie Rolls, caramel, and salt water taffy are a no-no because they tend to stick to the teeth, lodge between the gums, braces, and teeth, and are difficult to remove when stuck, making the possibility of lingering inside the mouth higher.

Hard candies are also off the list. Biting down on hard candies put pressure and force on your teeth which can damage your braces. If you insist on eating hard candies, make sure to suck on them instead of chewing.

Small-sized candies are also out of your options. Bid M&M’s and Skittles goodbye while you are in braces. Because of their size, these candies can go under the archwire and snap off a bracket when you bite on them.

Finally, your movie nights may need to miss the staple snack — popcorn. Although not a confectionery product, popcorn is also a no-no while on braces because of the hard kernel hiding inside it. The kernel can lodge between the wires and brackets of your braces.